Week 5 of the XFL season kicked off on Saturday, a day that saw the Houston Roughnecks improve to 5-0 with a 32-23 win over the now 1-4 Seattle Dragons before the 3-2 New York Guardians easily dispatched the 2-3 Dallas Renegades 30-12 in the late game.
The first game of the day started unexpectedly, with the Dragons taking a double-digit lead in the early going as Roughnecks quarterback P.J. Walker looked uncharacteristically shaky, turning the ball over three times, with two of those turnovers leading to Dragon touchdowns. But the Roughnecks were able to survive a bumpy start and overcome the deficit by scoring 12 unanswered in the fourth quarter to emerge with their fifth straight win to begin the season.
Walker wound up throwing for 351 yards and three touchdowns, but he nearly provided the Dragons with a chance to tie the game in the final seconds when he appeared to take a knee on fourth down with three seconds remaining. But the XFL officials bungled the situation by letting the time tick off the clock. The game ended without a review. And Seattle was denied one final shot at the end zone and a potential tying three-point conversion.
The second game of the day did not include much controversy or intrigue, as the Guardians outscored the Renegades 24-6 in the second half. The Guardians defense led the way, holding the Renegades offense to 3.3 yards per play.
You can relive the action from Saturday's games below. And be sure to check back on Sunday, when we'll be providing live coverage for the final two games of Week 5 in the XFL.
Saturday, March 7
Houston Roughnecks 32, Seattle Dragons 23
New York Guardians 30, Dallas Renegades 12
Sunday, March 8
St. Louis BattleHawks at DC Defenders (3 p.m. ET, FS1, fuboTV)
Tampa Bay Vipers at Los Angeles Wildcats (9 p.m. ET, ESPN)
That's going to do it for our coverage of the XFL on Saturday -- a day that saw Houston overcome two deficits to emerge with a narrow and controversial win over Seattle thanks to a big fourth quarter, before New York steamrolled Dallas for an easy win.
Thanks so much for joining us. We'll be bringing you live XFL coverage tomorrow, so be sure to stop by for Sunday's slate of games.
INTERCEPTION. That'll do it for Dallas, which continues to be woeful on offense. Just can't do anything
New York will have to settle for a FG, but they probably already have enough points to win this one. Clock keeps ticking. Dallas needs two touchdowns and two three-point conversions to tie this one
Very good job by Pearson to come back to that ball. It didn't gain much, but Pearson prevented a pick-six by tracking back and attacking the football.
Wow, Dallas was INCHES away from a blocked punt that would've been the spark they needed. Then, on the other end, Dallas fumbles the punt and NY recovers it. It went from the play Dallas needed to the moment Dallas might've lost this game.
This game has suddenly exploded. Dallas takes the kickoff back for a touchdown and they've provided an answer. They still have a ways to go. To make up the remaining ground, they'll need more from their offense, but they're not quite dead yet.
Y I K E S. This game just got blown completely open. Mueller, a defensive end, bats down a short pass at the line and then intercepts it and takes it the distance. That's why you can't keep throwing short like that. He was well aware what was coming and got in the passing lane
The play that broke the game open
That might be the dagger. NY immediately strikes with an 80-yard touchdown. Perez helped throw him open downfield and then Pearson made a man miss and took it the rest of the way. That's a huge touchdown given Dallas' offensive issues. Tough to see them coming back now
Dallas has to punt again. Absolutely nothing working offensively. They're averaging 3.2 yards per play and are 3/11 on third down
There was the shot. A man was open. And Nelson overthrew him.
Third-and-4 and Dallas converts with a short pass. It's all quick timing routes. At some point, Dallas needs to go downfield to test this defense vertically
INTERCEPTION. Perez throws high and it's picked by Hawkins, and then a fight breaks out in the middle of the field.
Proof that TD did actually happen!
We have a TOUCHDOWN. Marquise Williams runs it in from a yard out and New York takes a lead over a Dallas team that has looked just as woeful on offense. It's only a one-score game, but in such a low-scoring contest, that touchdown feels monumental.
Another good play from Perez, who finds McKay again, this time as he takes a big hit.
Better there. Good timing on the curl for another first down. Baby steps...
Back underway here in the second half. Here comes New York and Luis Perez, who went only 6/15 in the first half. It's been a slog.
Here's that big play that took Dallas into field goal range https://twitter.com/xfl2020/st...
The drive stalls when they decided to take shots at the end zone instead of going underneath. Now with only six seconds left, they have to settle for a FG. Feels like a missed opportunity with a timeout left.
Nelson takes off and goes airborne to pick up 13 yards on third-and-14. On the ensuing fourth down, Nelson hits his TE down to the 15. Just like that, Dallas' offense has a spark with 16 seconds left in the half. All it took was two plays when it previously looked like they were content on running out the clock
It looked like a first down. But the ruling stands.
As always, spot reviews are tricky.
That looked like a first down on replay. Luckily, it's going to be reviewed. Chance to get it right here. But spot reviews are always tricky.
Fourth-and-4 at the 39. Dallas making the wise decision to go for this in no-man's land.
He's very close to the first down, but the officials mark it short. Story of this game: Can't throw the ball four yards downfield.
The Guardians are now averaging 2.5 yards per play .... Neither of these offenses have anything going for them
The defensive struggle continues. Both teams averaging right around 3.0 yards per play.
Here's that grab from the field goal drive
Perez did well to avoid the sack on third and goal, but had no one open. So, a once promising drive stalls and will result in only a field goal.
Another nice throw by Perez on a crossing pattern over the middle. 23 yards for a first down. Good protection too. Perez worked his way through the progression until he found an open man. Pressure never got close to arriving.
